It was inevitable, I suppose, that the church world would eventually catch up with college sports. As successful as college athletes have become at monetizing their names, images and likenesses, and with the freedom the pretty well limitless transfer portal brings, preachers and churches were sure to follow suit at some point.
Naturally, the Word of Faith movement led the way; NIL and the prosperity gospel were a perfect fit.
“There need to be some changes — substantial changes,” the Rev. Copious Cash informed the board of elders. His Colgate-white teeth seemed almost too perfect as he began to lay out his demands. “If Copeland is worth hundreds of millions and a Gulfstream V jet, and Duplantis can ask for a $54 million Dassault Falcon 7x jet, I am worth at least $50 million and a Gulfstream G450.”
There was quick pushback; Smooth Talk Church had nowhere near the campuses or membership of those other ministries, let alone their financial wherewithal. But the pushback quickly died when Cash gave them his ultimatum.
“I have already been contacted by Fort Knox Fellowship. They assure me that if I enter the transfer portal, they will make me their starting pastor on day one, meet my financial and transportation demands and give me my own cheerleading squad.”